Western Victoria Primary Health Network

About

Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN) is responsible for increasing the effectiveness, efficiency and coordination of health services for patients.

Story

Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN) was established on 1 July 2015 and is responsible for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of health services for patients, particularly for those at risk of poor health outcomes.

The Western Victoria PHN services a population of 576,798 and has regional centres in Horsham, Ballarat, Geelong and Warrnambool.

Western Victoria PHN's strategic pillars include;

REGIONAL HEALTH PLANNING
- Undertake regional needs assessment to understand the primary health system priorities for rural and regional communities.
- Engage with general practice, Aboriginal health services, private allied health, community organisations and hospitals to maximise knowledge of workforce, service gaps and system issues.
- Engage with communities to ensure local perspectives are incorporated into program design, delivery and evaluation.

COMMISSIONING
- Use regional needs assessment priorities to inform the development of responsive and innovative workforce and service models.
- Implement transparent and robust contract and procurement processes.
- Adopt evidence based best practice approaches.
- Monitor and evaluate services and models.

GP AND PRIMARY CARE DEVELOPMENT
- Leverage the expertise of general practice to inform primary care development.
- Collaborate with general practice in implementing quality improvement activities.
- Collate and analyse data to inform service system improvement.
- Create opportunities for the primary care system to partner with general practice to improve health outcomes and reduce preventable hospital presentations.

HEALTH SYSTEM INTEGRATION
- Utilise cross sector collaboration and coordination.
- Implement eHealth solutions to improve continuity of care and clinical decision making.
- Enhance capability and capacity of general practice through the co-design of clinical pathways.
- Partner with communities and health professionals.

Mission

Quality and accessible health care for western Victoria.